The NTT IndyCar Series held its second and final preseason open test day on Tuesday, allowing drivers to turn laps around Sebring Raceway.
Half of the field was allowed free access to the circuit’s short course in the morning, with the other half opening the throttle in the afternoon.
When all the dust had settled, it was Team Penske that sat in a familiar position at the top of the time sheets.
Will Power logged the fastest time of the day, and indeed the fastest of the entire two-day event, by completing a circuit in 52.2549 seconds.
His team-mate Josef Newgarden was hot on his heels, turning a lap in his #2 entry 0.06 seconds slower and just below the 115 MPH mark.
“It’s funny, after a couple days back in the car, you feel right at home, back to the same old stuff, and going through the same old changes and just confirming stuff,” Power said.
“I know it so well now, but it always changes. It’s never the same. So, you’ve got to be on your toes, super-tight field.”
Narrow gaps
Taking the best times from both test days, there was only a 0.72-second gap between the 27 drivers. Not all were working on outright pace at all times, but it appears the performance gap is as close as ever heading into the 2025 season.
There were a total of 3,242 laps completed across the two days, with an average of 120 completed per driver.
Scott McLaughlin was the most prolific with 149 laps under his belt alone, although his quickest lap was set on the first day and it only translated into the 24th best time of the test.
After having to watch from the sidelines due to a mechanical issue on Monday, Scott Dixon was able to attack the track in his #9 Chip Ganassi Racing Honda Tuesday morning.
A small off-track excursion early in the day resulted in some minor damage to the car, but repairs were completed quickly and Dixon was able to turn 58 laps in preparation for the upcoming season.
The fastest rookie was Jacob Abel, who set the 18th best time in his Dale Coyne Racing Honda. Robert Shwartzman and Louis Foster nearly matched the 23-year-old’s pace, logging laps 0.12 and 0.20 seconds slower respectively.
The 2025 season is practically here, and teams will reconvene a short distance away in St. Petersburg in just 10 days’ time for the first official sessions of the new year.
